New Guinea Impatiens Plant Named &#39;SAKIMP039&#39;

ABSTRACT

An  Impatiens  plant particularly distinguished by having red flowers with red-purple eyes, and a compact plant habit, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Impatiens×hybrida hort.

Variety denomination: ‘SAKIMP039’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of New Guineaimpatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens×hybrida hort, andreferred to by the variety name ‘SAKIMP039’. ‘SAKIMP039’ originated froman interspecific hybridization in Misato, Japan between the proprietaryfemale Impatiens line ‘NH-248-13H’ (unpatented) and the proprietary maleImpatiens line ‘NH-312-36KH’ (unpatented).

In June 2011, the parental lines were crossed and a population of Flplants was created. The F1 plants were evaluated in Misato, Japan in anopen-field trial. The criteria for plant selection included deep flowercolor and vigorous rooting. At the completion of the trial, one singleplant selection designated ‘M2013-191’ was made based on the abovecriteria and vegetatively propagated. From June to August 2013, theselection was evaluated in an open-field in Misato, Japan. Shoot-tipcuttings of the variety were then shipped to Salinas, Calif., where theplants were regenerated and re-evaluated for stability of traits. Theselection, subsequently named ‘SAKIMP039’, was found to reproduce trueto type in successive generations of asexual propagation via shoot-tipcuttings in Salinas, Calif.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new variety when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Salinas, Calif.

1. Red flowers with red-purple eyes; and

2. A compact plant habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This impatiens plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographswhich show the plant's overall plant habit including form, foliage, andflowers. The photographs are of a plant grown in Salinas, Calif. undergreenhouse conditions. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonablyobtained by conventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit of the plant grown in a pot.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the mature inflorescence of the plant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘SAKIMP039’. Color references are to The RoyalHorticultural Society of London color chart (R.H.S.), 4^(th) edition(2001). Data was collected from plants grown about 7 months frompropagation by terminal cuttings in Salinas, Calif. under greenhouseconditions. Anatomic labels are from The Cambridge Illustrated Glossaryof Botanical Terms, by M. Hickey and C. King, Cambridge UniversityPress.

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Balsaminaceae.        -   Botanical.—Impatiens×hybrida hort.        -   Common.—Impatiens.        -   Designation.—‘SAKIMP039’.-   Growth:    -   -   Environmental conditions for plant growth.—The terminal 1.0            to 1.5 inches of an actively growing stem was excised. The            vegetative cuttings were propagated for five to six weeks.            The base of the cuttings were dipped for 1 to 2 seconds in a            1:9 solution of DIP 'N GROW (1 solution:9 water) root            inducing solution immediately prior to sticking into the            cell trays. Cuttings were stuck into plastic cell trays            having 98 cells, and containing a moistened peat moss-based            growing medium. The cuttings were misted with water from            overhead for 10 seconds every 30 minutes until sufficient            roots were formed. Rooted cuttings were transplanted and            grown in 20 cm diameter plastic pots in a glass greenhouse            located in Salinas, Calif. Pots contained a peat moss-based            growing medium. Soluble fertilizer containing 20% nitrogen,            10% phosphorus and 20% potassium was applied once a day or            every other day by overhead irrigation. Pots were            top-dressed with a dry, slow release fertilizer containing            20% nitrogen, 10% phosphorus and 18% potassium. The typical            average air temperature was 24° C.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—The proprietary Impatiens variety            ‘NH-248-13H’.        -   Male parent.—The proprietary Impatiens variety            ‘NH-312-36KH’.-   Plant:    -   -   Habit.—Compact.        -   Height.—29.0 cm from the soil line to the top of the            foliage.        -   Spread.—44.0 cm.        -   Number of branches per plant.—14 total with 8 main branches.        -   Length of branches.—2.0 cm from the soil line to the first            node, 10.0 cm total.        -   Diameter of branches.—2 .5 cm for the main branch, 1.0 cm to            1.5 cm for the other secondary branches.        -   Color of the branches.—RHS 59A (Red-purple) with slight RHS            144B (Yellow-green).        -   Life cycle.—Annual.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—About 4 weeks.        -   Time to bloom from propagation.—6 to 8 weeks.        -   Flowering requirements.—Will flower so long as the            temperature is above 5° C.        -   Temperature tolerances.—Plants observed to continue            flowering in a temperature range of 5° C. to 36° C.-   Stems:    -   -   Color.—RHS 59A (Red-purple) with slight RHS 144B            (Yellow-green).        -   Anthocyanin color.—RHS 59A (Red-purple).        -   Pubescence.—Absent.        -   Description.—Strong; circular in cross-section, smooth and            shiny.        -   Length.—5.0 cm to 8.0 cm from the first to the second node;            10.0 cm to 11.0 cm total.        -   Diameter.—5.0 mm to 6.0 mm.        -   Internode length.—5.0 cm; 3.5 cm to 5.0 cm from the first            node to the second node.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Whorled with up to 5 leaves per node; opposite            if only two leaves at one node.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate, curled.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Shortly attenuate.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Surface appearance.—Dull and waxy.        -   Length.—6.5 cm.        -   Width.—2.3 cm.        -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 139A (Yellow-green) Lower surface:            RHS 138A (Green).        -   Variegation.—Absent.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Surface texture.—No pubescence.        -   Petiole.—Length: 8.0 mm Diameter: 3.0 mm Color: Closest to            RHS 145D (Yellow-green) Surface texture: Smooth, glabrous.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Venation color (both upper and lower surfaces).—Closest to            RHS 145C (Yellow-green).-   Flowers:    -   -   Number of flowers per node.—1 to 3 in bloom at one time;            about 10 flower buds.        -   Number of flower buds per plant.—Approximately 50 to 60 in            bloom.        -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—14 days.        -   Flower type.—Single with spur.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.-   Corolla:    -   -   Shape.—Roughly circular with 5 radial petals.        -   Diameter.—5.0 cm.        -   Depth.—1.0 cm.        -   Petals.—Surface texture (both surfaces): Glabrous Length:            2.7 cm Width: 2.2 cm Shape: Obcordate Apex: Emarginate            (cleaved) Margin: Entire Base: Attenuate Color: Upper            surface: Closest to RHS 46A (Red) Lower surface: Closest to            but brighter than RHS 63A (Red-purple) Eye zone: RHS 61A            (Red-purple).-   Calyx:    -   -   Sepal shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Sepal number per flower.—2.        -   Sepal color.—Upper surface: RHS 60A (Red-purple) with slight            RHS 144B (Yellow-green) at the tip Lower surface: RHS 60A            (Red-purple) with slight RHS 142D (Yellow-green).        -   Sepal length.—1.0 cm.        -   Sepal diameter.—4.0 mm.        -   Sepal base.—Subcordate.        -   Sepal apex.—Caudate.        -   Sepal margin.—Entire.        -   Sepal texture (both surfaces).—Glabrous.-   Bud:    -   -   Surface texture.—Glabrous.        -   Length.—1.6 cm.        -   Diameter.—1.0 cm.        -   Shape.—Deltoid longitudinal cross-section.        -   Color.—Closest to but brighter than RHS 60A (Red-purple).-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—2.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—1.0 mm to 1.5 mm.        -   Color.—RHS 60A (Red-purple) with slight RHS 144C            (Yellow-green).        -   Surface texture.—Smooth, glabrous.-   Spur:    -   -   Color.—RHS 58A (Red-purple).        -   Shape.—Tubular; curved downward.        -   Length.—1.0 mm to 2.0 mm.        -   Diameter.—1.0 mm to 2.0 mm.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamen form.—Fused; split into 4 lobes.        -   Stamen number.—5.        -   Filament form.—Free.        -   Anther length.—4.0 mm.        -   Anther color.—Closest to RHS 60A (Red-purple).        -   Pistil number.—1.        -   Stigma color.—RHS 59A (Red-purple).        -   Style color.—RHS 144A (Yellow-green).        -   Ovary arrangement.—Parietal.        -   Ovary surface color.—Closest to RHS 145B (Yellow-green).        -   Pollen amount.—Abundant.        -   Pollen description.—Powdery.        -   Seed production.—Not observed.-   Disease and insect resistance: No particular resistance or    susceptibility observed.-   Comparison with parental lines and commercial variety: ‘SAKIMP039’    is distinguished from its parents as shown in Table 1 below:

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Female Parent Male ParentCharacteristic ‘SAKIMP039’ ‘NH-248-13H’ ‘NH-312-36KH’ Flower color Redwith Red- Orange Dark red purple eyes Plant growth habit Compact CompactVigorous

-   When ‘SAKIMP039’ compared to the commercial Impatiens variety    ‘SAKIMP030’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,015), the following differences    as described in Table 2 below.

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Characteristic ‘SAKIMP039’‘SAKIMP030’ Petal color, Closest to RHS 46A Closest to but darker thanupper surface (Red) RHS 45A (Red) Spur color Closest to but brighter RHS61B (Red-purple) than RHS 63A (Red- purple) Mature leaf color, RHS 139A(Yellow- Darker than RHS 147A upper surface green) (Yellow-green)

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of New Guinea Impatiens plantnamed ‘SAKIMP039’ as described and illustrated herein.